Bounty Hunter Cad Bane Brings Pain in Season 2 of CloneWars

Fans of Star Wars: The Clone Wars had best get used to seeing the grim, blue-tinted, narrow-eyed face of Cad Bane peeking out from under his wide-brim hat. The new shady character and his fellow mercenaries plan to shake things up in the animated TV show’s second season.

Premiering at 8 p.m. EST Oct. 2 on Cartoon Network, the season focuses on the rise of bounty hunters as a major player in the war between The Republic and Count Dooku’s Trade Federation.

And, while Jango Fett was the most feared gun-for-hire before his death at the hands of Mace Windu, Bane assumes that undisputed title for these new adventures. The bounty hunter will join Star Wars legends like Aurra Sing, Bossk and other players eager to cash in on the second, darker season of The Clone Wars.

Unless you’ve got a pile of money to throw at him, you’ll have no luck hiring Bane. And he’s no easier to get hold of for a simple interview. But Wired.com managed to do so without getting gunned down by his dual blasters. In fact, he was in a less-deadly mood than usual due to good business coming his way during the long galactic conflict.

“The galaxy’s a big place,” Bane said. “And there are always business opportunities for someone in my line of work. But the war tends to shake out the power players, and bigger clients means bigger fees. I’ve got no complaints.”

Little is known as to how Bane got into the bounty business or how he picks his team members for joint operations. The shadowy operative was still in no hurry to betray any of those secrets: “All you need to know about me is that I’ll get the job done — if the price is right,” he said.

“I don’t suffer fools easily, so I prefer to work alone. People in my line of work don’t care much for socializing. Sometimes the job demands that I work with specialists, and that’s when other folks come in handy. But make no mistake: I call the shots.”

Bane has no personal recollections of the late Jango Fett, but he confesses that the Republic’s clone armies, generated from Fett’s genetic code, have given him “no end of trouble.” He hears rumors of Fett’s son (Boba) perhaps taking up his father’s business, but he’s not concerned.

“I don’t have time to keep track of every little whelp in the galaxy,” Bane said. “I’m the best there is. If he doesn’t get into my business, I won’t get into his. I’d be happy to track him down — but it’ll cost you. I don’t work for free.”

While fending off clone army attacks, Bane also has to contend with determined Jedi like Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. He’d gladly kill them both if they get in his way, but doesn’t go looking to settle old scores.

“If I let things get personal, I would be dead by now,” he said. “It’s a job — although I do enjoy any chance to take down Jedi.”

That begs the question of assassinating as opposed to hunting down wanted targets. If the bounty reads “dead or alive,” Bane only hinted at his preference: “If my client doesn’t care, why should I?”